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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/society/2017/aug/30/nhs-cost-cutting-drive-to-reduce-hospital-referrals-revealed
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| Secret NHS cost-cutting drive to reduce hospital referrals revealed | Secret NHS cost-cutting drive to reduce hospital referrals revealed |
| (11 days later) | |
| GPs are being urged to get backing from a panel of other doctors in order to refer patients to hospital as part of a secret cost-cutting drive, it has been reported. | GPs are being urged to get backing from a panel of other doctors in order to refer patients to hospital as part of a secret cost-cutting drive, it has been reported. |
| A leaked NHS England memo tells health trusts to review referrals weekly by September in a bid to cut numbers by about 30%, according to Pulse magazine. | A leaked NHS England memo tells health trusts to review referrals weekly by September in a bid to cut numbers by about 30%, according to Pulse magazine. |
| Pulse, a specialist publication for doctors, said the leaked document promised “significant additional funding” for clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) who established the schemes this year. | Pulse, a specialist publication for doctors, said the leaked document promised “significant additional funding” for clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) who established the schemes this year. |
| The magazine said individual GPs would still be responsible for making the final decision over the referral process and the peer review would represent good practice to ensure that “all options are explored and that patients are seen and treated in the right place, at the right time and as quickly as possible”. | The magazine said individual GPs would still be responsible for making the final decision over the referral process and the peer review would represent good practice to ensure that “all options are explored and that patients are seen and treated in the right place, at the right time and as quickly as possible”. |
| An NHS England spokesman said: “Clinical peer reviews are a simple way for GPs to support each other and help patients get the best care, from the right person, at the right time without having to make unnecessary trips to hospital. | An NHS England spokesman said: “Clinical peer reviews are a simple way for GPs to support each other and help patients get the best care, from the right person, at the right time without having to make unnecessary trips to hospital. |
| “More than half of CCGs have already implemented some sort of peer review system, with Luton seeing an 8% drop in hospital referrals, and the latest NHS England guidance will help ensure best practice is shared to remaining local commissioners.” | “More than half of CCGs have already implemented some sort of peer review system, with Luton seeing an 8% drop in hospital referrals, and the latest NHS England guidance will help ensure best practice is shared to remaining local commissioners.” |
| The referrals process has attracted criticism before. It was revealed in January that NHS bodies were paying millions of pounds to private firms that blocked patients from being sent to hospital by family doctors. | The referrals process has attracted criticism before. It was revealed in January that NHS bodies were paying millions of pounds to private firms that blocked patients from being sent to hospital by family doctors. |
| The British Medical Journal (BMJ) investigation sent freedom of information requests to all 211 CCGs in England. Of 184 that responded, 72 (39%) said they commissioned some form of referral management scheme to help manage outpatient demand at their local hospitals. | The British Medical Journal (BMJ) investigation sent freedom of information requests to all 211 CCGs in England. Of 184 that responded, 72 (39%) said they commissioned some form of referral management scheme to help manage outpatient demand at their local hospitals. |
| Almost a third (32%) of the schemes were provided by private companies, while a further 29% were provided in-house and 11% by local NHS trusts. | Almost a third (32%) of the schemes were provided by private companies, while a further 29% were provided in-house and 11% by local NHS trusts. |
| Sixty-nine percent of CCGs with schemes gave details of operating costs. These CCGs combined had spent at least £57m on schemes since April 2013, the investigation found. | Sixty-nine percent of CCGs with schemes gave details of operating costs. These CCGs combined had spent at least £57m on schemes since April 2013, the investigation found. |
| A survey published last year also found almost one in four cancer patients needed to see their GP at least three times before getting referred to hospital. | A survey published last year also found almost one in four cancer patients needed to see their GP at least three times before getting referred to hospital. |
| The National Cancer Patient Experience Survey 2015, which examined the experiences of more than 71,000 cancer patients, found that 24% of patients saw a family doctor about the health problem caused by cancer at least three times before being referred to hospital. | The National Cancer Patient Experience Survey 2015, which examined the experiences of more than 71,000 cancer patients, found that 24% of patients saw a family doctor about the health problem caused by cancer at least three times before being referred to hospital. |
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